Bastyr University California became an official Live Well San Diego partner on April 16, 2018 by hosting a kick-off luncheon and presentation featuring County of San Diego’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nick Yphantides.  Since that time, Bastyr faculty, staff and students have been busy with numerous community activities to educate the San Diego community about natural health and wellness, including:

• On May 19, Bastyr California sponsored a Children’s Wellness Day for the Head Start program in Solana Beach. Faculty member Dr. Janis Gruska and third and fourth year naturopathic medicine students conducted well-child visits with low income children preparing to enter preschool in the fall. 
• Also on Saturday, May 19, naturopathic medicine students shared nutrition information with elementary school children and their parents at Jefferson Elementary School in Carlsbad during a school health fair. The day culminated in the building of a school medicinal plant garden. 
• Bastyr University California’s Department of Nutrition and Basic Sciences completed a 10-week pilot study examining the effects of an integrated, lifestyle management program. Subjects participated in hands-on cooking classes, group exercise and individualized nutrition counseling. Anthropometric and lab values were collected. Preliminary data analyses are underway.
• On June 23, Bastyr California graduated nine Masters in Nutrition for Wellness students and 50 Naturopathic Doctoral students. Many of these graduates plan to stay in Southern California and will be leading the charge to innovate healthcare and nutrition education in our community!
• Naturopathic medicine students provided massage and physical medicine treatments to homeless veterans in the integrative tent at the San Diego Stand Down event, June 29 – July 1. Veteran students Brian Trainor and Ginger Sweetan led the effort, guided by Bastyr residents and adjunct faculty members.

Moving forward, Bastyr University is committed to continuing its efforts that contribute to a healthy, safe, and thriving community, and looks forward to continuing to find ways to align their work with the Live Well San Diego vision.